Pongamia tree named ‘K140’

ABSTRACT

‘K140’ is a new  Pongamia  tree distinguished by having consistent and abundant production of exceptionally large seed pods, coupled with a very high oil content of the seeds.

Latin name of the genus and species of the tree claimed: Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre.

Cultivar denomination: ‘K140’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Pongamia tree (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre) named ‘K140’. ‘K140’ was discovered by the inventors growing in an urban cultivated area in southeastern Queensland, Australia, wherein it and neighboring trees are grown for shade and other landscape amenities. The parentage of this tree is unknown, as is typical for trees cultivated in landscape plantings of this type.

‘K140’ has been reproduced asexually through vegetative cuttings.

‘K140’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct variety of Pongamia tree (Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre), named ‘K140’, which is distinctly characterized by unusual pendulous branches arching downward from a dense, spreading crown, large seed pods with exceptionally large seeds (2.1 g) containing high seed-oil content (41.4%, dry-weight basis) and annual (or nearly so) production of large quantities of pods. ‘K140’ demonstrates excellent vigor and is reasonably resistant to insect and disease pests.

The original tree (and source of clonal material) was identified and selected primarily on the basis of its consistent production of large and abundant seed pods, coupled with the high oil content (41.4%, dry-weight basis) of its large seeds. This selected individual was assigned identity number ‘K140’. Subsequently, branch cuttings were collected from the donor tree and rooted by treating the cuttings with the rooting hormone indolebutyric acid (IBA) using either an aqueous solution of IBA (500 ppm) or a commercially available rooting powder. Dehydration of the cuttings was avoided by placing them in moistened rooting medium within a humid enclosed chamber. Rooting success varies from one collection event to another, which is normal for cuttings from mature trees. Typically 10% or more of the cuttings initiated root development within 3 to 4 weeks. Cuttings were rooted in Brisbane, Australia, as well as in Texas, U.S.A. These asexually propagated rooted cuttings remain true-to-type, and show considerable resemblance among one another, after accounting for differences for variation in overall size of the cuttings from which the individual trees were derived.

Similar to Pongamia cultivars ‘K128b’ (U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2015/0020250) and ‘K606’ (U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2015/0020252), ‘K140’ has a strong tendency to produce regular crops of pods each year. Relative to other comparison cultivars, ‘K140’ is unusual for its exceptionally large seeds (averaging 2.1 g) borne in correspondingly large pods, and its exceptionally high seed-oil content (41%). For example, seeds from Pongamia cultivar ‘K128b’ average 0.88 g and contain approximately 38.5% oil. Pods from ‘K140’ are further characterized by an acuminate apical tip that is distinctly hooked and pointing away from the pod's ventral suture. The rounded crown of ‘K140’ is distinguished by its downward arching and pendulous branches. Relative to Pongamia cultivars ‘K128b’ and ‘K606’, the terminal leaflets of ‘K140’ tend to be similar in size relative to lateral leaflets from the same leaf. For both ‘K128b’ and ‘K606’, terminal leaflets tend to be larger than corresponding lateral leaflets. Finally, ‘K140’ exhibits distinctive corky plumes subtending leaf nodes from the current year's shoots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new Pongamia tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographs, which show the tree's form, branches, foliage, leaves, trunk, pods, and seeds. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1—shows an overview of ‘K140’ as seen from the street, demonstrating the downward-arching branchlets on the perimeter of the crown. The crown has been periodically pruned to accommodate utility lines.

FIG. 2—shows the smooth gray bark on the main trunk. Mottled patches of lighter and darker gray primarily reflect differences in lichen growth.

FIG. 3—shows a terminal shoot from the current year's growth. Shown are seven compound leaves along the length of the shoot.

FIG. 4—shows pinnately compound leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaflets are elliptic to ovate in shape with a cuspidate apex. Leaflet venation tends to be arcuate. The terminal leaflet is roughly equal in size to the lateral leaflets.

FIG. 5—shows five mature seed pods (aligned in the top row), ready for harvest and 3 seeds (bottom row). Seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical in outline, with an acuminate apical hook pointing towards the left, away from the ventral suture (where developing seeds are attached). Also shown is an immature seed pod (arrow). The reddish-brown seeds (bottom row) are somewhat variable in size. Larger seeds are typically found in larger pods.

FIG. 6—shows two unbranched fruit clusters showing immature pods attached to their respective central rachis. Most fruiting structures are unbranched, but some branched fruiting structures are also observed.

FIG. 7—shows a section of a current year's shoot illustrating corky plumes (arrow) subtending a leaf node.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘K140’. Hereafter, standardized color codes refer to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Mini Colour Chart.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Fabaceae.         -   Botanical.—Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre; also called             Millettia pinnata (L) Panigrahi, Derris indica (Lam.)             Bennet, Pongamia glabra Vent, and Cytisus pinnatus (L).         -   Common name.—Pongam tree, or pongam oiltree.         -   Cultivar name.—‘K140’. -   Plant description:     -   -   Tree.—Size: Vigorous tree of substantial size and stature,             16 m in height. Crown diameter, measured at the drip-line in             two dimensions, is 12.4×12.2 m. Trunk: The arched main stem             first branches at a height of 2.4 m from the ground and             subsequently branches several more times shortly above.             Breast-height diameter of the trunk is 31 cm. Tree crowns             and trunks continue to grow as trees age. The trunk shows             evidence of epicormic branches that have been removed by             pruning. Epicormic shoots can reach 50 to 120 cm in length.             Bark: Smooth, grey, with lighter grey flecks and some             mottling. Form: Decurrent crown form, with deep-green             foliage. Outer pendulous branches are distinctly             downward-arching and drooping. The crown has been modestly             pruned periodically to prevent unwanted interference with             overhead utility lines.         -   Branches.—The largest branches are nearest the ground,             located just under 2.4 m from the ground. Their color             closely resembles the color of the main stem. These larger             branches range from 2 to 10 m in length with a typical             length of 4 m. Branching habit: Many branched limbs. Growth             and size of lateral branches are considerably less than that             of the main branches. Many smaller branches occur higher in             the crown. Buds and Shoots: Terminal buds are absent. Young             shoots emerge from naked lateral buds, with the most distal             bud giving rise to a terminal shoot. Buds are hemispherical             and range from 4.2 to 4.6 mm wide at their bases. Buds             protrude outward 2.6 to 3.4 mm from the stem and are 1.6 to             2.0 mm thick. The typical bud color is strong yellowish             green (RHS 144A) and can be deep yellowish green (RHS 141A)             on herbaceous epicormic shoots in full shade. Terminal             shoots: The seasonal elongation of terminal shoots is             substantial. In the outer portions of the crown, branches             are long and slender, and distinctly downward arching. Such             terminal shoots range from 5.9 to 8.5 mm in diameter and can             be 3 to 4 m long in the outer crown where they droop             downward. Stem internodes between leaves are long, averaging             6.7 cm. Lateral shoots: Seasonal elongation of lateral             shoots is considerably shorter than for terminal shoots,             ranging from about 4 to 20 cm. Diameters of lateral shoots             range from 4.9 to 8.5 mm. Shoot and twig surfaces: Woody             twigs have leaf scars that are 5.5 to 6.0 mm wide, showing             traces of three vascular bundles. The central scar tends to             have a border that is less distinct than the outer two. The             youngest shoots are distinctly green and flexible, with no             lenticels apparent to the naked eye. As shoots mature, their             color shifts from green to tan and prominent lenticels             become visible as raised light-colored corky circles             approximately 1.5 mm in diameter. Distinctive corky plumes             subtend both sides of the leaf nodes on the current year's             shoots.         -   Leaves.—Pinnately compound leaves bearing typically 5 to 7             deep-green leaflets with entire margins. Leaves are arranged             alternately along the stem. Size and shape: The outline of a             compound leaf is roughly oval to elliptic, with a length of             19.7 to 27.5 cm (average 23.7 cm) and a width of 15.0 to             23.0 cm (average 19.2 cm). Leaflets: Blades of individual             leaflets range from elliptic to (less frequently) ovate in             shape with a cuspidate apex and acute bases. Blades of             terminal leaflets range in width from 4.5 to 7.0 cm (average             5.8 cm) and in length from 7.9 to 11.4 cm (average 9.5 cm).             The smallest leaflets on a leaf tend to be basal, ranging in             width from 3.1 to 5.6 cm (average 4.5 cm) and in length from             4.9 to 9.3 cm (average 7.1 cm). Leaflet color, surface, and             texture: Leaflets are glabrous on both abaxial and adaxial             surfaces. The adaxial surface is moderate olive green (RHS             137A), and the abaxial surface is deep yellowish green (RHS             141A) and less glossy. Young leaves exhibit a strikingly             glossy cuticle on their adaxial surface and can be strong             yellowish green (RHS 144A) on both surfaces. Leaflets turn             darker (towards moderate olive green, RHS 137A) as they age             and become increasingly sclerophyllous. Stipules: A pair of             small stipules subtends the youngest leaves on a shoot. They             remain for only a short duration before they dehisce.         -   Flowers and inflorescences.—Hermaphroditic florets are borne             on an indeterminate inflorescence. Inflorescence structure:             Several florets are clustered into a fascicle node, which             are more-or-less evenly distributed along a rachis. The             entire inflorescence is a pseudoraceme. Most inflorescences             are unbranched, but some are branched. Position in crown: As             many as 3 to 4 inflorescences per branch are borne in the             basal leaf axils of the current year's vegetative flush,             near the distal end of the prior year's shoot growth.             Inflorescences are observed on both terminal and lateral             shoots. An average unbranched inflorescence encompasses 35             to 45 florets, averaging 38. Branched infloresences             encompass up to 63 florets. Flower clusters tend to be most             common towards the outer surface of the crown. Florets:             Emerge acropetally from an ovoid calyx. Zygomorphic florets             consist of 5 pinkish-white petals: 2 keel, 2 wing, and a             standard (or banner) petal. Flowering period: Relative to             other Pongamia trees in the general area, ‘K140’ tends to             flower about mid-range into the flowering period (from             November to December in southeastern Queensland, Australia).         -   Fruits.—Seed pods usually bear a single seed. An             underdeveloped (and much smaller) seed is also observed in             some pods. Shape and color: Developing fruits first appear             as dark-green flattened pods, expanding in size into lighter             green and eventually tan-colored woody pods. Crown             distribution: Pods can occur throughout the crown, but are             most prevalent towards the outer portions of the crown.             Fruit clusters: Pods occur in clusters of 1 to 4 in poorer             seed years, and 2 to 10 in better seed years. Pods within a             cluster are connected by the rachis of the inflorescence             from which they developed. Dimensions: Pods are             exceptionally large, ranging in size from 42-62 mm long, by             27 to 38 mm wide, by 8 to 11 mm thick, averaging             50×30×10 mm. Bilaterally symmetrical pods range in shape             from oval to half-moon and are somewhat flattened along the             dorsal side. The acuminate apical hook points away from the             ventral suture (where developing seeds are attached). Intact             pods (i.e. with seeds) average 4.2 g in weight. Fruits begin             to ripen in late October (in southeastern Queensland,             Australia), about 10 months after flowering.         -   Seeds.—Typically borne singly in pods. Sometimes an aborted             (and much smaller) seed occurs alongside a fully-formed             seed. Seed coat: Seeds are covered by a thin seed coat that             is usually dark- to reddish-brown. Seed size: Exceptionally             large seeds in a size range from 22 to 29 mm long, by 17 to             24 mm wide, by 6 to 9 mm thick, averaging 25×20×7 mm.             Average seed weight is 2.1 g. Seed oil: Oil content is             higher than average, relative to other Pongamia trees, at             41% oil on a dry-weight basis. Nut crop: Regular bearer.             Crop frequency: Most Pongamia trees rarely produce abundant             nut crops across multiple years, instead bearing fruit             biennially or less frequently. ‘K140’ is unusual in that it             bears fruit and seeds during most years. Ripening: Fruit             ripening begins in late October and extends into December.             If undisturbed, pods remain in the crown for several weeks             after they ripen. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pongamia pinnata (L) Pierre tree called ‘K140’ as illustrated and described herein. 